A Russian drone strike on a minibus in northern Ukraine killed at least nine people and wounded four others on Saturday, May 17, 2025. The attack occurred in the Sumi region, which has faced increased Russian shelling since Ukrainian forces were pushed out of the neighboring Kursk region of Russia in March.
The incident happened hours after the first direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials in three years in Istanbul. While a prisoner exchange was agreed upon, the meeting failed to secure a ceasefire, which Ukraine had prioritized.
Ukrainian officials condemned the attack as a war crime, stating it was a deliberate attack on civilian transport. Discussions during the Istanbul meeting included the possibility of a meeting between Presidents Zelensky and Putin.